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More than a million British small and medium-sized businesses are stockpiling raw materials and ordering components six months in advance to overcome a supply shortfall that prevents them from meeting customer demands.
As construction costs reached a new record high, and import prices rose after the pound fell, businesses reported that much of their cash was related to providing the basic raw materials and components needed to supply customers.
Simon Gray, ICAEW’s chief accountant, said the companies were suffering a “hat trick” that was forcing them to limit production.
“Businesses report that things are so bad that they cannot plan for the future. There is a breakdown in trust, and uncertainty changes their behavior, forcing them not to take risks and reduce investment. “
Business groups called on the prime minister to agree on a rescue plan to support companies affected by rising energy and fuel prices, wage inflation and rising prices for imported goods and raw materials.
Diesel prices in many areas have risen to above £ 2, increasing transport costs, while a 10% drop in the pound this year has led to higher import prices.
Brexit trade restrictions have also deterred firms from exporting to the EU and made it more difficult to import goods from the continent, according to a report last week. Resolution Foundation.
The manufacturer’s organization, Make UK, said its members are reporting extensive stockpiling to ensure increasingly scarce supplies from countries like China, and to protect against the prospect of even higher prices at the end of the year.
“Our recent reports have shown that investment funds and expansion plans are being postponed because more funds are being tied up to secure supplies,” said Fhahin Khan, a senior economist at the lobby group.
The warning came after the CBI reported a drop in private sector activity in the UK, which seems to justify concerns that the UK is heading for a recession in the autumn as high prices reduce cash incomes and restrain household spending.
The CBI said the slowdown was widespread in various sectors, with consumer services receiving the biggest hit (-41%), the sharpest drop in the sector since February 2021.
Looking ahead, it says that private sector activity is expected to decline over the next three months to -3%, where a negative figure indicates a reduction.
Alpes Palea, a leading CBI economist, said: “As recovery after a pandemic is severely hampered by persistently strong pressure on spending, private sector activity is shutting down.”
Gray said the firms placed orders for equipment and materials six months in advance to secure supplies, tying cash that would otherwise have been used for investment.
“Businesses order earlier, because if they don’t, they won’t have anything to sell in six months,” he said.
The Institute of Directors said companies cite the UK’s uncertain economic prospects as their number one concern and then the implications Brexitwhich severely hampered exports and imports from the continent.
Martin McTag, national chairman of the Small Business Federation, said consumers received aid but not businesses during cost of living crisis.
“It’s a really scary moment for many thousands of small businesses,” he said. “The price of a liter of petrol or diesel is just one very obvious example of the price pressure that small businesses are experiencing. But it’s not just fuel – it’s energy, raw materials, insurance, staff costs, rent, components – it’s all around.
Rishi Sunak said last month it will add £ 15 billion to its support package, including a £ 650 check for 8 million low-income families. But he rejected calls to offer the company additional subsidies.
According to the Bank of England, inflation reached 9.1% in May and is expected to approach even higher before reaching a high of around 11% in October.
The central bank raised the base rate to 1.25% earlier this month, the highest level since January 2009.
Interest rates should be raised “quickly and decisively” to prevent the strengthening of the inflation spike that has hit most countries in the world, according to the central body of the central bank, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
The Swiss-based BIS has supported a wave of rising interest rates in developed and emerging markets, and said plans for even higher borrowing costs for the rest of the year in response to inflationary pressures are very important.
Speaking after his annual general meeting, where central bankers met to discuss their current difficulties and one of the most turbulent start of the year for global financial markets, BIS General Manager Augustine Carstens said: “The key for central banks is to act quickly and decisively. of how inflation will strengthen ”.
Carstens, the former head of Mexico’s central bank, said the focus would be on the coming months.
The BIS believes that an economic soft landing – if rates rise without causing a recession – is still possible, but acknowledged that it was a difficult situation.
“If this tightening leads to significant losses, to a significant correction of assets and it pollutes consumption, investment and employment – of course, this is a more complicated scenario.”


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Hasbro asked if the world wanted a massive Transformers War for Cybertron Unicron figure, and the world responded in turn: over 8,000 backers decided they were all in.
The campaign is closed now, and over 8,000 backers (and huge Transformers fans) ensured the huge new toy will be brought to life. It's going to be huge (literally) if you like Transformers or Unicron, that's for sure.
Unicron will come with interchangeable chins, a Galvatron slug figure, and over 27 inches of height wither 50 points of articulation. If that's not menacing enough for you, it can turn into a planet mode that will span 30 inches in diameter. Planet mode will include Unicron's planet-eating jaws, which can open up a lengthy amount for Unicron to gobble up worlds whole. It will also include planetary rings that you can pose at your leisure.
According to Hasbro, this will be the most accurate Unicron figure the team has ever created, so if you're a fan of the Chaos Bringer, this figure was literally built for you. You can check out all the finer points about Unicron and all the work that went into bringing it to life over at the official Hasbro blog, which has detailed the process in its entirety.
The finished product can even grasp things with its hands if you so choose. He also costed $575 each for all 8,000 of the backers who decided bringing the figure to life was worth what many people might pay for all of or at least half of their rent. There's a limit of 5 per customer, but I.hope no one actually bought that many.
What will the HasLab crowdfunding platform come up with next? We'll have to wait and see.
Brittany Vincent posted a new article, Massive Transformers: War For Cybertron Unicron figure funded
Yes! So Glad it was funded!
I'm not gonna buy one but I'm super happy it's going to exist.

domain: news


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[KH Explains] Will LG Energy Solution be Tesla's 4680 battery crisis savior?
US fighter jet drops fuel tanks into Yellow Sea in 'in-flight emergency'
Gender Ministry on course for disbandment
Snow depth exceeds gauge limit at a Gangwon site
Thailand asks S. Korea to toughen K-ETA screening after denied entries of its people
Hyundai, Kia to promote new SUVs in ShanghaiBy KH디지털2
Published : April 19, 2017 - 13:54
Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's two biggest carmakers, plan to promote China-oriented crossovers at the Shanghai auto show, a move aimed at absorbing growing demand for sport-utility vehicles (SUVs).
In the 2017 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, open to the public from April 21-28, Hyundai Motor will debut its ix35 and its sister company Kia will reveal the K2 Cross.
The two are SUV models tailored from the outset to satisfy the needs of Chinese consumers, statements by the affiliated companies said.
New car sales in China jumped 15 percent last year to 24.4 million units from a year earlier helped by solid sales of luxury sedans and crossover SUVs, according to industry data.
The ix35 SUV will be sold in China in two versions later this year: one with 1.4-liter gasoline turbo engine and the other a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter petrol mill, Hyundai said. The two models will be mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission or a six-speed automatic.
Kia also plans to launch the K2 Cross small crossover in the neighboring market later this month. The entry-level SUV is fitted with a 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a six-speed automatic or manual transmission sending power to the front wheels, it said.
Hyundai and Kia said they will display 19 and 20 models, respectively, at the motor show.
SsangYong Motor Co. has also joined the two bigger rivals to promote its SUVs in the world's biggest automobile market at the auto show.
SsangYong Motor, which is 72.85 percent owned by Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., plans to display four SUV models such as the compact Korando C and Tivoli mini crossover at the show to increase its brand awareness and woo customers to its brand.
SsangYong said it is considering building an assembly line in China to meet "explosive" demand for SUVs in one of Asia's fastest growing economies. (Yonhap)
US unveils new major sanctions package for Russia's war against Ukraine, Navalny's death
Health care crisis hits highest level amid doctor walkout
S. Korea, US, Japan concur on 'stern' response to NK-Russia arms deal


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What is opening and when?
Technically, Disney homes have currently started the procedure of reopening. Disney Springs, an outdoor shopping district, has been open since May 20.
As of mid-March, all of the Disney style parks and resorts around the world have been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, May 29, the Disney World style parks and resorts received approval from the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in Florida to resume, so its main, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Disney Vacation Club resorts at Walt Disney World will be next, reopening to members and visitors on June 22, together with Disneys Fort Wilderness Resort & & Campground. Disney Vacation Club resorts in Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina, will open to members and guests beginning on June 15. For now, there is no set resuming date for non-Disney Vacation Club homes.
As far as the amusement park, a phased reopening to the public will start on July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disneys Animal Kingdom, followed by EPCOT and Disneys Hollywood Studios on July 15.
G/O Media may get a commission
Like the policy at Disney Springs, all guests and cast members will also have their temperature level take in the past getting in a style park. For more details and updates on the resuming, check out the Disney Parks blog site.
It should go without saying that everyone needs to use their finest judgement when deciding if or when to return to possibly congested locations like theme parks. In the meantime, you can always enjoy this virtual journey to Disney World.
What to expect at the parks
Even when the Disney World style parks are open, do not expect to go back to the exact same Magic Kingdom you went to as a child– or even 4 months back. Per the Disney Parks blog:
This phased reopening will demonstrate a purposeful technique, with limits on attendance and regulated guest density that lines up with guidance on physical distancing. That means certain experiences we understand draw large group events– such as parades and nighttime spectaculars– will return at a later date. In addition, “high-touch” experiences such as makeover opportunities, playgrounds and character meet and welcomes will stay temporarily not available, however characters will still be in our parks to amuse and thrill our visitors.
As of mid-March, all of the Disney style parks and resorts around the world have been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as some states begin the process of resuming, Walt Disney World in Florida has announced its plans to welcome individuals back to the Happiest Place on Earth starting on July 11, according to a post on the businesss blog. On Friday, May 29, the Disney World style parks and resorts received approval from the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force in Florida to reopen, so its official, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Technically, Disney residential or commercial properties have already started the process of reopening. Like the policy at Disney Springs, all visitors and cast members will also have their temperature level take before getting in a style park.


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MotorStorm RC‘s launch is as close as the PlayStation Vita itself, but the team at Evolution Studios has plenty more content lined up for the game past the green light.
Spong has spotted two separate DLC packs in the game’s trophy list. The packs go by the name of Pro-Am Festival and the Carnival Festival, suggesting they will represent mini-festivals like in previous, full-on MotorStorm games. According to the site, the Pro-Am pack will include an extra 16 events and the Carnival one another 24.
We’re still a bit too excited about the Vita’s actual launch to start thinking about the DLC to come, but it’s nice to know that this bite-sized racer will be getting plenty of support post-release.


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Bus routes bringing Oregonians to and from work, shops and neighborhoods in two of the state’s biggest cities will soon boast new technology and cleaner air. Lane Transit District in Eugene and TriMet in Portland each announced last week that they have secured federal funding to add several electric buses to their transit fleets in the coming year. These buses, powered by electricity instead of diesel, will cut both air pollution and operating costs. Lane Transit District estimates that their purchase will reduce lifetime fuel and maintenance costs by nearly $500,000 per bus.
Transportation is a major source of air pollution in our state, with disproportionate levels of toxics and accompanying health impacts harming low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. In addition, the transportation sector is the single largest source for greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon, making up almost 40% of our state’s climate pollution.
Replacing public and private vehicles that run on gasoline and diesel with ones that run on electricity is a key strategy for modernizing our transportation system and powering it in a sustainable, economical way. Electrifying everything from our everyday cars and trucks to our city buses, and from our freight and delivery trucks to our industrial commercial centers and ports, will have major benefits for our air, climate, and pocketbooks. Shifting from gasoline to electricity as a fuel is even more advantageous here in Oregon now that we have passed the Clean Energy and Coal Transition Act, which makes our power grid one of the cleanest in the country.
Electric Cars Are Becoming More Accessible and Affordable
Electric vehicles (EVs) are the best-known form of transportation electrification – with more than 7,000 EVs already on Oregon’s roads and the West Coast Electric Highway enabling fast charging along I-5 and the coast. Technology breakthroughs have increased how far EVs can go between charges and sped up how fast they recharge, helping soothe “range anxiety” and spurring rapid growth in the burgeoning market.
EVs’ decreasing prices make them a practical choice for a growing number of families. Used EVs such as 4-year-old Nissan Leafs are now selling for $7,000-$8,000, and with a range of 50-100 miles, they can serve as terrific commuter cars. The cost of driving an EV in Oregon is 2.5 times cheaper than a gas-fueled car. That means driving 100 miles costs only $3.41 in an EV vs. $12.16 in a gas-fueled car. Over the life of a car, an EV driver in Oregon could save up to $13,000 in fuel and use about 6,000 gallons less gasoline. EVs are also cheaper to maintain because there is no internal combustion engine with all its moving parts.
Oregon will need tailored policies and broader support for EV incentives and infrastructure to give all Oregonians the opportunity to reduce monthly transportation expenses and to clean up the air in some of our most polluted neighborhoods. One major barrier is the lack of charging stations located near apartment buildings. Incentivizing the installation of charging stations near multi-family housing locations – particularly within low-income communities – would make it possible for many more residents to consider switching to an EV. Additionally, increasing the availability of financial incentives to reduce the cost of leasing and buying EVs, innovative low-cost financing packages offered by banks and lenders, creating targeted incentives to transition from old, dirty cars to EVs, and increasing awareness of the opportunities and potential savings through education campaigns can help increase availability to more residents across the state.
Pioneering Oregon’s Next Frontier to Electrify Everything
Electrification of most of our transportation sector can happen, and it means reaching beyond simply a transition to electric cars. Innovative solutions coming onto the market now include wide-ranging technologies to provide everything from electrified public transit and freight to forklifts and tug boats. Electric buses are hitting the roads nationally, including in Eugene and Portland. California is leading the way to electrify their major ports and develop a sustainable freight program, which centers on zero and near-zero emission technologies. Elsewhere, Sweden just opened the world’s first electric highway, Norway has announced plans to ban the sale of non-electric cars by 2025, and EVs with the ability to charge wirelessly will enter the market next year.
New opportunities in Oregon are helping spur this needed transition to electrified transport and transit. More than 300 EV-related companies in Oregon have already created nearly 1,600 jobs in the state, with great potential to grow. Thanks to the Clean Energy and Coal Transition Act, Oregon’s biggest utilities are also planning to invest in new programs to advance transportation electrification next year. Part of the recent Volkswagen settlement following their emissions cheating scandal will go to advancing the use of electric vehicles across the U.S., including in Oregon.
Oregon’s cities are pioneering a modern transportation system by introducing electric buses to their fleets, but much more remains to be done to electrify our transit, ports, freight and industrial processes. Opportunity is also ripe to make EVs available to everyone, including low-income communities. Now is the time to move into the electric fast lane to arrive at a less polluted, more prosperous state.


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Recently, the online live show of "Sanyuesan Festival of Zhuang People -- Carnival of Guangxi" for cultural tourism consumption brands in Pumiao Town, Yongning District was launched in the local self-media. The activity will last until April 26 to show a unique "Sanyuesan Festival" to the public.
This activity has not only offered colorful online art performances and special food exhibitions, but also launched an online tour in the A-level scenic spot of Pumiao Town, which allows citizens to enjoy the beautiful cultural scenery of the ancient town of Pumiao without actually going out. It is worth mentioning that there are many local cuisines on display in the special food exhibitions, such as mugwort cake, glutinous rice, colorful rice noodles, etc. The colored glutinous rice and mugwort cake are the most popular cuisines among Zhuang people for their deliciousness and the meaning of good luck. The five colored glutinous rice symbolizes happiness and auspiciousness among the Zhuang people, and also represents all brothers and sisters of different ethnic groups; and the round mugwort cake stands for the ethnic reunion, said Zhang Feng, the head of the culture and broadcast station in Pumiao Town. This town will use the wonderful performances and delicious food as the media to convey the concepts of ethnic unity, fighting against the epidemic together, striving for a well-off life and advancing into a new era.


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Thanks to a number of media sites who didn’t understand the true purpose of cryptocurrencies, or the problems it could solve, digital currencies got off to a bad start in mainstream awareness. It has taken a long time for the negative stigmas to begin to be chipped away, but there has definitely been a lot of progress in the past couple of years. At this week’s SiGMA-ICE Asia digital conference, crypto and blockchain innovation made an appearance, delving into how the technology is particularly beneficial to the iGaming space. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, interest in crypto as a legitimate form of payment has now reached an entirely new level across the globe.
Max Krupyshev, the CEO of cryptoprocessing.com, and Hong Kong Blockchain Association co-founder and co-chairman Tony Tong provided substantial insight into how crypto is making its way to iGaming payment channels. Digital currencies have the ability to provide payment solutions that are unparalleled by any conventional alternative, allowing for both gamers and gaming platforms to resolve purchases and payouts easier and cheaper than ever. This has become even more important as iGaming operators establish their activity throughout multiple jurisdictions, allowing the global reach of crypto to help ease entry into new territories.
Krupyshev has witnessed a strong push toward crypto as a payment solution in the iGaming space. Over the past couple of years, he has seen more interest from operators and crypto now accounts for a quarter of all payments. The percentage could be higher, but people are still trying to understand how digital currencies work, what their advantages are and, of course, overcoming the negative stigma.
To help combat the latter, cryptoprocessing.com, and other similar payment platforms, are operating very similarly to conventional payment platforms. To adhere to existing money-laundering prevention regulations, crypto accounts have to be verified and the source of the crypto address is confirmed to ensure the legitimacy of the funds. This is a process that is constantly being administered for both existing and new accounts, helping to ensure that any transactions that go through the platform are on the right side of the law.
Digital currencies continue to receive more acknowledgement from both consumers and governments, as has been substantiated by the introduction of several state-backed digital currency initiatives around the world. Tong predicts that crypto will continue to receive more support, especially in Asian countries, and will be on the same level as fiat before too much longer. China has been at the forefront of the transition to digital currencies, driven by the shift from a cash-based to a cashless society in the country. According to Tong, “Even beggars scan QR codes” instead of accepting cash.
Across Asia, especially as the coronavirus has hit the land-based casino industry hard, more gaming operators are exploring online alternatives. Macau still prohibits iGaming, so some operators are moving to other regions where the activity is allowed. Along with this transition, it is becoming more important than ever to transact in crypto, and Tong expects greater integration going forward. Many Asian countries have already implemented responsible legislation and regulations to oversee the crypto industry, allowing the iGaming operators to confidently establish their activities in these countries and embrace the digital currency ecosystem to facilitate an easier launch.
This crypto forensic firm will now trace Zcash transactions, notes Dash privacy is akin to Bitcoin
Ever since crypto-crimes and criminals using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to launder money became a thing, the field of crypto-forensics has come up as an unlikely “evil good.”
The field has, somewhat, proven most cryptocurrencies are not fully private as previously imagined. A user’s transactional behavior can be mapped and worked backward to provide personal identities of the owners of suspicious crypto wallets or transactions.
Chainalysis has emerged as the top contender in the crypto-forensics space, with their solutions targeted at governments, crypto institutions, and private agencies for insights into cryptocurrency transactions and to develop anti-money laundering mechanisms.
Now, the firm is moving ahead to track Dash and Zcash transactions — two of the largest privacy protocols that made use of various security features. Zcash uses the innovative zk-Snarks framework in its protocol to mask transactions and protect identities.
Announcement: Chainalysis now supports Dash and Zcash! You can read up on the details in our latest blog. https://t.co/PYFKUw3C7Q pic.twitter.com/tNqUO8P5JB
— Chainalysis (@chainalysis) June 8, 2020
A blog post on the subject noted users do not implement the privacy features available on both Dash and Zcash, with Chainalysis even calling the privacy on Dash a “misnomer” and no better than currently-used “mixing” services like CoinJoin.
For Dash, Chainalysis noted the protocol sends all requested transactions into a bigger “pool,” making it difficult to connect input addresses with the output. However, this occurs only when a user selects the “PrivateSend” feature — which is technically similar to any other cryptocurrency using CoinJoin — with all “normal” Dash transactions being unmixed by default.
Only 9 percent of all Dash transactions use the PrivateSend feature. Chainalysis adds:
“(This) is larger than the share of Bitcoin transactions that use CoinJoin or mixing techniques, but is still a relatively small and declining percentage of Dash transactions.”
Users don’t have to use the output of these mixing transactions to perform a PrivateSend transaction. Instead, they can opt to use them with non-mixed funds. The percentage of Dash transactions that constitute actual transfers of funds using PrivateSend is less than 0.7 percent.
Addressing any potential “FUD” stemming from the Chainalysis report, Dash Core Group CEO Ryan Taylor noted user privacy is still intact if PrivateSend is used. He tweeted in the regard:
No, it’s not. Use PrivateSend. We’ve had AML providers since 2016. Exchanges need those services to appropriately assess compliance risks, so the addition of Chainalysis actually helps add more exchanges (some only use Chainalysis).
— Ryan Taylor (@RTaylor05) June 8, 2020
Chainalysis said only 14 percent of all transactions used one of Zcash’s two shielded pools “in some way.” However, only 6 percent of those were completely shielded, meaning all input and output data is encrypted.
The metric represented only 0.9 percent of all Zcash transactions, Chainalysis noted.
However, the firm points out Zcash is “stronger” due to its zk-SNARK encryption. Regardless, transaction values and “at least one address” for over 99 percent of ZEC activity can be recorded by Chainalysis, the firm claimed.
CryptoSlate reached out to the Electric Coin Company, which oversees Zcash development, for comments on the topic. The firm referred:
Chainalysis cannot trace shielded addresses, unless a specific user were to opt-in and let Chainalysis view their transaction data using their own Viewing Key (“Selective Disclosure”).
— Electric Coin Company (@ElectricCoinCo) June 8, 2020
ECC further noted the Zcash protocol has inbuilt features to ensure users utilizing shielded addresses get the “strongest protection against data leakage,” while exchanges get “easy” deployment and regulatory compliance.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Leto, an independent developer who’s previously worked on Bitcoin Core and Zcash as a contributor, expressed on Twitter about the apparent lack of privacy:
Not clickbait, facts.
Sure does look like @mineZcash has $ZEC Stockholm Syndrome, poor thinghttps://t.co/YSnLNlTt7A
Most exchanges and wallets don’t support zaddrs, might as well call it Tcash and embrace the lack of privacy. https://t.co/vOjmSjkoBO pic.twitter.com/nINlz5Ynot
— Duke Leto (@dukeleto) June 9, 2020
The post This crypto forensic firm will now trace Zcash transactions, notes Dash privacy is akin to Bitcoin appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Author: By TeamMMG
Proof of Work (PoW) Consensus Algorithm Defined – Changelly
The important thing thought of the blockchain is that intricate work must be finished so as to add a brand new block. It’s this complicated work that makes the blockchain dependable and holistic. Additionally, a reward is paid for this work. That is how individuals get cash for mining.
Moreover the truth that the work must be finished, it must be proved. Right here we are going to start to speak in regards to the Proof-of-Work. Changelly explains the fundamentals of this consensus algorithm.
Proof-of-Work (PoW) was the primary profitable decentralized blockchain consensus algorithm. PoW is utilized in Bitcoin, Ethereum (Ethereum plans to modify to Proof-of-Stake), Litecoin, ZCash, Monero, and lots of different blockchains.
Probably the most well-known algorithm works as follows: initially, community customers ship digital tokens to one another, then all transactions made are collected in blocks and recorded in a distributed open registry – blockchain.
In PoW, all transactions are confirmed with the assistance of sophisticated mathematical calculations, the validity of which might be verified by any consumer of the community. Miners remedy the issue, kind a brand new block, and ensure the transaction. The duties develop into harder every time, because the variety of customers grows, and the load on the community turns into better.
Learn extra about mining cryptocurrencies in Changelly’s Mining Information.
Hashing means coming into data of any size and measurement within the supply line and returning a results of a set size specified by the algorithm’s hash perform. Within the context of cryptocurrencies corresponding to Bitcoin, transactions after hashing on the output appear to be a set of characters outlined by a size algorithm (Bitcoin makes use of SHA-256).
The hash of every block accommodates the hash output of the earlier block. This will increase the safety of the system, and the order of created blocks can’t be violated. The consumer should first accurately decide “nonce” – the quantity added to the tip of the road to create a hash that begins with the required variety of zeros. If the miner managed to unravel the issue, a brand new block is shaped: the following set of transactions is positioned in it, and they’re thought-about confirmed.
Consensus algorithms are designed to make sure the accuracy of transactions by checking the accuracy of the actions taken, distributed amongst many community contributors.
The accuracy and velocity of the blockchain depend upon this mechanism. On the similar time, the issue shouldn’t be too sophisticated. On this case, block era will take a number of time, which implies that many incomplete transactions cling on the community.
If the issue can’t be solved in a predictable time, creating blocks can be a fluke. If the issue is solved too merely, this makes the system weak to abuse, spam, and DoS assaults.
The answer must be simply appropriate, in any other case, not all nodes will perceive whether or not the calculation was carried out accurately, which implies that they should belief different nodes, which isn’t in step with one of many important rules of the blockchain – full transparency.
This algorithm is sincere and comprehensible. It may be trusted. Nonetheless, its most important issues are monumental bills and a 51% assault.
In 2017, a mean of 163 kW/h of power was required to finish a single transaction within the Bitcoin system. With this quantity of power, 5 and a half days can meet the wants of a household of three residing in a small one-story home.
Additionally, these miners which have quicker and extra highly effective ASICs get greater than the remaining. Because of this, Bitcoin will not be as decentralized because it was initially meant.
The place is POW used? In lots of cryptocurrencies. After all, probably the most well-known of them is Bitcoin, and it was Bitcoin that set this development. It makes use of the Hashcash algorithm, which lets you change the complexity of the duty relying on the community’s complete computing energy.
The typical block formation time is 10 minutes. An identical system is applied in bitcoin-like cryptocurrencies, for instance, in Litecoin. One other main undertaking that makes use of PoW is Ethereum. Contemplating that nearly three-quarters of all blockchain initiatives are applied on this platform, we are able to confidently say that the majority functions use a consensus mannequin with proof of labor.
To confirm transactions, Proof-of-Stake requires contributors to share a portion of the cash that they retailer on-line. PoS is an alternate PoW mechanism, first applied in 2012 within the cryptocurrency PPCoin (renamed PeerCoin). The thought behind Proof-of-Stake is to unravel the Proof-of-Work downside related to excessive power prices.
What Is Proof of Stake Consensus Mechanism? An article with a full clarification.
Validators verify the validity of accomplished transactions. The benefit of PoS is that it’s extra energy-efficient and maybe higher at stopping assaults than PoW.
Validators stake their cash on transactions by blocking cash. The mixer that’s used to finish the block is chosen in proportion to the worth set on the community. Proof-of-Stake prevents community misbehavior by shifting verification authority to probably the most lively and customers. The consensus algorithm of the stake is utilized in Peercoin, Decred, and can quickly function on Ethereum, during which the transition from one algorithm to a different was prescribed prematurely.
Will the Ethereum staking be worthwhile?
Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake might be thought-about the 2 hottest consensus algorithms on this planet of cryptocurrencies. Nonetheless, a number of mechanisms have their subtleties and options.
Their record could also be fairly intensive, so we record a number of of probably the most well-known:
Regardless of all the professionals and cons of consensus strategies, every protocol’s safety largely is determined by the developer. In the meanwhile, probably the most worthwhile choice is to mix the 2 algorithms, so different technique of proof seem, primarily based on a person precept of coexistence of PoS and PoW.
Individually, it’s price highlighting the algorithms Proof of Capability and Proof of Storage, during which to verify actions within the system, they use an actual useful resource, which is the quantity of disk house.
Changelly is a safe prompt crypto alternate that has 150+ cryptocurrencies accessible to be swapped and acquired at market-best charges. Working since 2015, the platform and its cell software entice over 1,000,000 guests month-to-month, who all get pleasure from fast and easy exchanges, low clear charges, and 24/7 stay assist.
Bitcoin IRA™ Launches An All-New Crypto Savings Program, Called Saver IRA™ For Retirement Investors
The company’s Saver IRA product enables individuals to automatically contribute monthly and invest in cryptocurrencies starting with as little as $100
LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Bitcoin IRA, the world’s first, largest, and most secure digital asset IRA technology platform that allows clients to purchase cryptocurrencies and other digital assets for their retirement accounts, today announced the launch of its newest product, called “Saver IRA,” which is aimed at helping individuals build up retirement savings and allowing them to invest in digital assets in small increments starting with as little as $100 per month.
Saver IRA, from Bitcoin IRA
Saver IRA enables clients to invest in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets for their retirement accounts with recurring contributions. After signing up for a Saver IRA account, an individual can easily connect their checking or savings account online, set their recurring contribution frequency and then automatically grow their Saver IRA account every month. The account holder then selects their self-directed allocation online to control the assets they want in their account. They can choose from several leading assets including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), Physical Gold (PG), or Dollars (USD). Account holders benefit from all the same exclusive tools, materials and resources available on the proprietary Bitcoin IRA platform.
Here are some key highlights of Saver IRA:
- Monthly Recurring Contributions: Contribute every month by connecting a checking or savings account.
- Automated Crypto Investment: Contributions are automatically invested into the cryptocurrencies selected by the client.
- No Long-Term Commitments: Pause or cancel additional contributions anytime without fees or penalties.
- Only $100 To Start: Open a new Saver IRA account with as little as $100.
- $100 Million Custody Insurance: Digital assets under custody are insured for up to $100 million.
- Significant Tax Advantages: Maximize your account growth with tax deferred and potentially tax-free investing.
Bitcoin IRA recently surpassed 50,000 account holders and $400 million in transaction volume. In April the company announced it added physical gold to its list of available assets for its clients to buy, sell or swap on the company’s self-directed retirement platform.
Chris Kline, COO and Co-Founder of Bitcoin IRA said:
“We are thrilled with this announcement because it expands access to digital assets for greater masses of people that were previously unable to save and invest in cryptocurrencies for retirement. Now every person interested in starting their retirement with bitcoin has the ability to with Saver IRA. This furthers our goal to provide equal access to retirement accounts and fulfill our mission of helping more Americans retire.”
About Bitcoin IRA
Bitcoin IRA, available at bitcoinira.com, is the world’s first, largest, and most secure digital asset IRA technology platform that allows clients to purchase cryptocurrencies and physical gold for their retirement accounts.
The company provides a trading platform for self-directed retirement accounts which allows clients to set up a qualified digital asset IRA account, transfer funds from an existing IRA custodian, execute trades in real-time 24/7 through a leading exchange, and store the funds in an industry leading multi-signature digital wallet from BitGo, Inc.
Donald Trump Said Bitcoin Is Based On “Thin Air,” But Wall Street Is Buying En Masse
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 08: U.S. President Donald Trump pauses while making remarks as he participates … [+] in a roundtable with law enforcement officials in the State Dining Room of the White House, June, 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. From L-R is Attorney General William Barr, Daniel J, Cameron Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Trump. (Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump said the value of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are based on “thin air.” Yet, Wall Street is increasingly investing in Bitcoin.
Grayscale, an investment firm that enables institutions to invest in Bitcoin through a publicly-traded vehicle, saw 88% of its investments come from institutional investors in the first quarter of 2020.
Fidelity, which manages $2.46 trillion in assets, found in a survey that about one third of institutions in U.S. and Europe are invested in cryptocurrencies.
Following the lead of billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones, data shows that institutions are beginning to perceive Bitcoin as a store of value.
Institutional inflow into Grayscale Bitcoin Trust consistently increased throughout Q1 2020
In July 2019, President Trump criticized Bitcoin and crypto assets. He said their value is highly volatile and are not considered as money.
President Trump wrote:
“I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air. Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity.”
But, in the same statement, President Trump emphasized that the U.S. dollar is the most dominant currency in the world and it will stay that way.
The need to mention the dominance of the dollar along with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies by the President showed that mainstream awareness of the emerging asset class was growing.
“We have only one real currency in the USA, and it is stronger than ever, both dependable and reliable. It is by far the most dominant currency anywhere in the World, and it will always stay that way. It is called the United States Dollar!” President Trump noted.
As the world encounters heightened geopolitical risks, global uncertainty, and an economic slump, institutional investors are portraying their willingness to take a risk in investing in a relatively new asset that could be a hedge against inflation in the long run.
In a famous essay, Xapo CEO Wences Casares laid out his investment thesis for Bitcoin and why he thinks BTC could reach $1 million.
Casares said Bitcoin is not an asset nor does it have intrinsic value. But, it is money and it transfers value effectively in a decentralized manner.
The same can be said about gold. By nature, gold does not have intrinsic value. Over time, because people considered gold to have value for thousands of years, it is perceived as a store of value.
As Tudor Jones said, Bitcoin will gain value and credibility every day that passes. Casares noted a similar point:
“Bitcoin is not an asset. It does not produce earnings or dividends and it does not generate interest. And Bitcoin has no intrinsic value. Bitcoin is simply money and most forms of good money have no intrinsic value.”
Bitcoin is only 11-years-old. It is not possible to conclusively state that BTC will become a world currency and evolve into an effective hedge against inflation.
But, Wall Street and institutional investors are taking the bet that BTC will eventually turn into an established store of value and money, like gold did over time.
Author: Joseph Young


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Deltion have launched a logistics blog “Views from the Logistics Control Tower”
To mark the tenth birthday of the founding of Deltion and the award winning supply chain and logistics visibility and collaboration platform CarrierNet, Deltion have launched a logistics blog “Views from the Logistics Control Tower”.
The blog is designed to present news and views related to Cloud Computing opportunities within supply chains and, most importantly, how visibility, collaboration, customer service and logistics efficiency can be achieved by using web and cloud technology.
“We hope that CarrierNet users and other logisticians will visit the blog and share their views on what they would like to see Cloud Computing deliver to their supply chains” said Deltion CEO Denis O’Sullivan. “This is an opportunity for logisticians to share ideas on what they would like to see in supply chains now that they have the opportunity to have real time visibility and collaboration.”
For further information contact:
Denis O'Sullivan FCILT
020 8894 3200
This press release was distributed by ResponseSource Press Release Wire on behalf of Deltion in the following categories: Business & Finance, Retail & Fashion, Manufacturing, Engineering & Energy, Computing & Telecoms, Transport & Logistics, for more information visit https://pressreleasewire.responsesource.com/about.


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There have been many high-profile terrorist attacks around the world, leaving people feeling uncertain about traveling. On the other hand, the travel industry isn’t slowing down, which shows that people still want to travel. Per new research from WTTC, global travel and tourism continues to grow, despite the challenges the industry faces.
The result, now more travelers are turning to mobile apps for their personal travel safety. Information is vital in emergency situations, and travel security apps can provide alerts in real-time. During the moments when travelers need them most.
For more information, download our white paper:


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daarfisher posted an update 8 years, 10 months ago
@lissatraversemagazine-com Hi Elizabeth , I’m the Internal Communication Director for the Michigan FairTax Assn. As you’re aware, our state legislature has recently enacted the Michigan Business Tax [MBT] as a response to ending the Single Business Tax [SBT] (a gross receipts tax). Our goal is to inform Michiganders about a proposed Michigan FairTax alternative that would both simplify, and stimulate, Michigan’s business / jobs climate in order to stem the mass-emigration of businesses and families currently taking place.
The proposed Michigan FairTax would REPLACE the income tax and current sales tax, with a consumption tax (sales tax at point of retail sale). Under this plan, no more state tax will be withheld from Michigan wage-earners’ paychecks. What’s more, every Michigan resident-family will receive a monthly “prebate” check, in amount based on family size. This will ensure that NO Michigan family will EVEN BEGIN paying the MI FairTax on goods / services unless, or until, they exceed poverty-level spending.
Under the MI FairTax plan, points of collection are substantially reduced to just retailers, many of whom are already collecting sales tax. Because service providers must account for income tax withholding and compliance costs, their prices carry a hidden tax which a FairTax will make visible. (Business-to-business purchases would not carry the tax, as this would, again, hide the cost of taxation in prices.)
Because of the “prebate” (advance rebate calculated as .0975 x $ [poverty level spending per family size]) to ALL Michigan-resident households, the MI FairTax rate would effectively be 0% on all monthly family spending to the poverty level; thereafter it’s 9.75%. A reasonably inferred average effective rate would be ~5.5% (see p.2 of pdf brochure, also review an economic analysis [pdf] on MI FairTax effects prepared by the Hillsdale Policy Group).
Dr. Laurence Kotlikoff believes that it will take the FairTax to reverse unfunded obligations, now above $53 trillion and counting!


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Tomorrow’s connected ecosystem will leverage machine-native wallets, enabling authenticated machine-to-machine transactions across various commercial settings.
No people necessary.
That’s the vision of Sterling Pratz, CEO at leading payment solution for vehicles and fleets Car IQ, who tells PYMNTS’ CEO Karen Webster that he and his investors see machine payments, and vehicles in particular, as the future.
Car IQ’s proprietary Car IQ Pay product provides vehicles with a trusted identity and secure payment capabilities, allowing them to connect directly with banks and merchants to purchase fuel, tolls, parking, and more without the use of a credit card.
“Essentially what we’ve created is a vehicle wallet, but what’s more important is what’s inside that wallet — in our case, we’ve gone further than storing money, storing value and distributing that value,” says Pratz. “We actually have purses inside each wallet and those purses can be responsible for different things: you can have a purse that’s just focused on loyalty rewards, one is focused on payments, one is focused on driver incentives, and you can add value to each one of those things.”
According to Ptolemus Consulting, the connected vehicle payment market is expected to reach $600 billion by 2030 and enable vehicles to control purchases.
At this year’s CES 2023, Car IQ announced a partnership with BlackBerry Limited for an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) integration that will allow cars to transact directly from their in-vehicle dashboard. The company is coming off of a successful recent Series B fundraise that has captured the attention, and imagination, of both the payment and vehicle industries. The company said Tuesday (Feb. 7) it had raised an additional $15 million to its Series B, led by Forte Ventures, with participation from Visa, Bridgestone, Navistar and Circle K, among others.
As the connected car trend gathers speed, vehicles are becoming rolling retail stores with embedded payments, enabling drivers to pay for services from inside their vehicles on a transactional basis.
“It’s a complete one-stop, in-dash experience,” Pratz says. “That’s what we think is revolutionary — any payment that’s gone into a car before has always been multiple steps. There’s an app for each merchant and then a credit card associated for each merchant and app. In our case, that all goes away. Anytime a driver goes into a gas station, it automatically connects and pays, same with driving through a toll booth. For electric vehicles, it’s even easier because the car can automatically scan the charger, know the merchant, transfer data and pay — the driver just plugs it in and goes.”
The mindset Car IQ wants to keep driving forward is one focused on simplicity and a single payment, he added.
Key to that simplicity is establishing vehicle identity through Car IQ’s proprietary technology.
“Our ability to surface all the data around a vehicle prior to a transaction to get a full view of not just the vehicle but the risk of the transaction was something that really stood out to our investors,” Pratz said. “For example, when a car comes into a gas station we can not only scan the vehicle and identify who that vehicle is with certainty, but also provide details such as how big the gas tank is in order to use that data to tell both the bank and the merchant the maximum risk of the transaction — so instead of underwriting $150 per transaction, we tell the bank and merchant that, say, based on five gallons of maximum requirement and $6 per gallon, this is a $30 risk transaction. And merchants love it, and banks love it — instead of $150, they only have to take out $30 from their treasury side and put it into escrow to underwrite, so it frees up their cash.”
Car IQ’s ability to support this kind of variable rate underwriting with its innovative data-backed visibility into transactions by leveraging identity as a payment trigger is something Pratz said people are “really excited about.”
“We’re really focused on how to weave identity into services to make them easier to use,” he added, “what we’re learning is we can use identity to basically automate everything: the payment workflows between the bank and the merchant and the customers, which cuts down the payment steps. Typical payments from acceptance to issuance require around 11 steps, and there’s some manual things in between.”
With Car IQ’s product, Pratz says, that process can be done in three steps — all of which are automated.
“It’s not something that’s pie in the sky anymore,” Pratz tells PYMNTS’ Karen Webster. “We are capable of this right now. And we’re going to take this fundraise and bring things to market in a big way.”


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With state revenues still well below pre-recession levels, the last thing states need is new federal restrictions on state and local taxing authority — but that’s exactly what they’d get under several bills before Congress.
I’ve already described one such bill, which would make it much easier for corporations to shelter profits from state corporate income taxes. The latest such bill to be introduced (the Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act) would restrict states’ and localities’ ability to tax downloaded music, movies, and online services like photo storage and payroll processing. Backed by a powerful lobbying coalition that includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Amazon, Verizon, Comcast, and Time Warner, the bill threatens to:
reduce state and local tax revenues even as states and localities struggle to fund critical services like education, health care, and public safety;
seriously disrupt fundamental features of state and local sales taxation that extend far beyond the kinds of online goods and services covered by the bill; and
open up major tax-avoidance opportunities for large multistate corporations selling physical goods online.
As one of our two analyses of the bill explains, the bill’s proponents claim that states and localities want to ease their current fiscal problems by imposing discriminatory taxes on digital goods and services, such as by taxing the sale of a digital book delivered online at a higher rate than the sale of a printed book. They also claim that the bill is needed to stop taxation of digital goods and services by more than one state and more than one local government. But they’ve presented no concrete examples of discriminatory or multiple taxation of digital goods and services, and in any event, the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act already bans “multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.”
Moreover, as our companion analysis explains, the bill could cause a host of problems for states and localities, from interfering with sales taxes on physical goods to sparking widespread litigation.
Far from being discriminated against, digital goods and services often start out with an unfair 5-10 percent price advantage over their physical counterparts because they are exempt from sales taxes. Almost every state with a sales tax imposes it on books, music, movies, software, and games delivered on physical media. Many states also tax newspapers and magazines, cable and satellite TV service, pay-per-view movies, and satellite radio subscriptions. Yet only a minority of states tax these same goods and services when they are sold in the form of a digital download or as a service delivered over the Internet.
In short, the bill is largely a solution in search of problem, and it could have large unintended consequences. Given these facts, Congress shouldn’t enact it in its current form.


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With the recent news that Holden (General Motors Car Division in Australia) are exiting the practice of local manufacturing, there has been a lot of political commentary on the issue. Clearly it is sad for those who will need to find new employment. In light of the negative sentiment for the brand, Holden decided to run an advertising campaign to allay fears. The claim being that while they will no longer make cars in Australia, they will continue to make cars for Australia. It can be seen below:
There has been significant backlash. This is predictable conglomerate behaviour…. quick, quick, run an advertisement to make it all ok. But the truth is this is a total waste of money. It’s simple really:
The people who don’t care about the manufacturing exit, don’t need to hear it. The people who are upset about the exit, are unable to be assuaged by the campaign. It’s a zero sum game.
This is one of those occasions where no amount of advertising will change the minds of those who are disappointed, and possibly infuriate them. Sometimes the best form of marketing is knowing when to keep quiet.


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This past week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action by issuing recalls or warnings on six products it deemed had unknown dangers to consumers. Three of these were food products and three were prescription drugs.
Here, DrugNews recaps the various warnings and recalls you should know:
A recall was issued for the Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix from Continental Mills manufactured between April and June of 2016 due to the possible presence of E. coli O121 contamination in the blueberry nuggets.
The 48oz. Deluxe S'mores Ice Cream sold in Kroger stores is being recalled due to the presence of an undisclosed peanut allergen.
Finally, Hearn Kirkwood is recalling certain batches of its Evie’s Cheddar Potato Salad sold in the Bellevue, WA locations of Amazon Fresh between April 8th and June 13th due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination of frozen peas used in the product.
Listeria is an infection that can cause severe symptoms or even death in young children or the elderly. It may also cause miscarriage or fetal death in pregnant women. However, it is usually only associated with short-term headache, fever, diarrhea, stiffness, nausea and abdominal pain.
A new box warning was added to the uric acid treatment Elitek due to post-approval reports that the drug may be linked to serious and fatal allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.
Patients should speak with their doctor about their risks, and stop use immediately if a hypersensitivity reaction happens.
The seizure and spasm medication Sabril was given an additional label warning due to heightened risks that it may cause retina damage and permanent loss of vision in both eyes, including tunnel vision.
Lastly, the FDA added label warnings to the extended release diabetes drug Xigduo XR, based on reports that it may be linked to lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis caused by metformin drugs has bee known to result in hospitalization or death.
For more on drug and product warnings and recalls, follow DrugNews.net.
Elmiron is a mild blood-thinner drug that has been around since 1996 and is prescribed to treat bladder pain or inflammation, a condition called interstitial cystitis.
Since many of the companies that sold asbestos or used it in their products have long since gone out of business, people who are diagnosed with asbestos-related cancers often think it’s too late to file a lawsuit.
Call, email or live chat with us today to see how we can help.


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Jan 21, 2016
Adidas hopes fashion styles will help it win on pitch too
Jan 21, 2016
A combination of new and retro sneaker styles will keep driving growth at Adidas's fashion business and help attract more sports fans too, the head of the German firm's Originals unit said in an interview.
Adidas, which on Monday announced that Henkel's Kasper Rorsted will take over as new chief executive in October, has lost market share to Nike as its U.S. rival has concentrated more squarely on performance-enhancing sportswear.
Adidas has started to muscle back into the U.S. market, but growth has come largely from retro fashion styles like its Stan Smith tennis sneakers, while sales of core sports products like running and football shoes has been more muted.
Arthur Hoeld, head of Adidas Originals, told Reuters that the fashion business made popular by collaborations with celebrities like Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Rita Ora helps the brand win fans on the field too.
"We will capture more of the growth of the sneaker industry with our performance products, but Originals will help us to grow a more significant share," he said. "We're not concerned here internally about the balance."
Nike has done better than Adidas at launching products with new features to help athletes, and has concentrated more on deals with sports figures than celebrities.
But products like its minimalist "Free" running shoes have also become style hits and the company has been doing more collaborations with fashion designers and models - Kanye West actually switched to Adidas from Nike.
Adidas fashion brands - which include Originals and teen label NEO - accounted for 30 percent of sales in 2014 to 70 percent for sports performance products. As Nike does not run a separate lifestyle unit, it does not give comparable figures.
Analysts estimate the share rose to 35 percent in 2015 as Adidas scored catwalk hits with relaunched Stan Smiths and Superstar baseball sneakers, both white leather styles first popular in the 1970s that have been reissued in new colours.
"Originals is a great franchise. I just think Adidas should avoid being seen as a fashion brand," said Berenberg analyst Zuzanna Pusz. "In the United States, a lot of people know Adidas is a soccer brand but don't associate it with other sports."
VOLATILE FASHION TRENDS
Originals sales jumped 33 percent in the third quarter of 2015, a fifth quarter of double-digit growth. That far outpaced performance sports sales, although Adidas has said it expects strong demand for running and football gear this year, driven by the European football championships and the Rio Olympics.
The attraction of the lifestyle segment is clear - fashion sneakers generally command higher margins than performance shoes as they are easier to manufacture. But demand can be more volatile as trends wax and wane.
Puma saw sales slide after it became largely a fashion brand. Since Bjorn Gulden took over as chief executive in 2013, the German rival has been rebuilding its sports credentials by sponsoring the likes of English side Arsenal.
Hoeld declined to comment on what strategy Rorsted might adopt for Originals when he takes over. Investors hope he will boost profits by cutting costs and driving innovation.
Adidas has faced criticism for failing to replicate the broad appeal of Nike "Free" with its most notable recent innovation, high-tech springy "Boost" soles, initially pitched only to serious runners rather than fashionistas.
However, it has included "Boost" soles on the sell-out "Yeezy" shoes designed by Kanye West as well as in a new casual running sneaker dubbed "NMD" launched in December.
"We're on to the next big one here," Hoeld said, citing social media buzz around the shoes as well as retail demand.
Hoeld said Adidas will be careful not to flood the market with Stan Smiths and Superstars although he sees no sign of the retro trend waning.
"Demand is still very strong and growing for those franchises," he said. "We certainly intend to keep them on a very high but not over-exposed level.
"The number of high-end fashion brands that are copying our silhouettes right now is unheard of."
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.


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The launch of the anticipated Mortal Kombat X fighting game will take place quite soon, that’s why it’s logical that recently lots of fresh information and some hot rumors about this project have been spreading online. And today, we hasten to share with you the most exciting Mortal Kombat X news.
The next part in the Mortal Kombat fighting series will hit the media market on April 14th, so yesterday WB Games company announced four special Mortal Kombat X editions, among which there are two Kollector’s bundles as well as the Premium and Limited ones. And now, we’d like to share with you the information about their content.
The upcoming tenth instalment in the legendary Mortal Kombat fighting series has got an official page on Steam. There, you can pre-order the future project.


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We already know AMD intends to launch "Barcelona" quad-core Opteron processors clocked at up to 2GHz next month, but anonymous sources at server manufacturers have provided the guys at DigiTimes with a more detailed roadmap of AMD's upcoming quad-core server launches.
According to DigiTimes, AMD plans to roll out two quad-core Opterons on September 10: a 1.9GHz Opteron 2340 and a 2GHz model known as the Opteron 2350. These two processors will cost $320 and $390, respectively, and they'll both have 95W thermal ratings. If those prices are accurate, the chips will both cost roughly $20 more than quad-core Xeons with similar clock speeds (i.e. the 1.86GHz Xeon E5320 and the 2GHz Xeon E5335).
With the first batch of Opterons out the door, AMD will reportedly prep for the launch of a 2.2GHz Opteron 2354 in October. DigiTimes says that chip will have the same 95W thermal rating as its 1.9GHz and 2.0GHz brethren, but its price tag will be $610. That's about $100 more than what the 2.33GHz Xeon E5345 costs today.
|Acer details specs and prices of its Ryzen Mobile-powered Swift 3s||9|
|Google Project Tango is dead—long live ARCore||10|
|Thermaltake Sync box bridges RGB LED walled gardens||3|
|Intel tips off potential 960 GB and 1.5 TB Optane SSD 900Ps||8|
|Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX Vegas put a big chill on spicy-hot chips||24|
|Aerocool's Project 7 P7-C1 Pro case reviewed||8|
|Antec P110 Silent touts quiet looks and quiet operation||11|
|Updated LG Gram laptops put heavy-duty power into feathery bodies||19|
|Monkey Day Shortbread||15|


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NIWOT, CO--(Marketwire - Sep 25, 2012) - The LXI Consortium is pleased to announce its upcoming General Meeting & "Plug Fest" hosted by MathWorks on October 8-10, 2012 in Boston, MA. Member companies are invited to bring new LXI products to validate their conformance with the LXI specification. Certified LXI conformance testers will be on hand to verify that all products submitted for testing comply with the latest LXI specification, including recently approved optional extended functions such as HiSLIP and IPv6.
Certification ensures that all LXI products work seamlessly together, in an open standard environment and with a consistent Web interface. Since the inception of the LXI Standard in 2005, there has been consistent growth in LXI conformant devices as well as vendors of LXI conformant instruments. Currently, there are more than 1740 certified LXI products, in over 220 different product families from more than 34 different vendors.
In addition to conformance testing, member companies use the Plug Fest as an opportunity for the LXI Board, Technical, Conformance, and Marketing Committees to meet. The LXI Marketing Committee will discuss the impact of its redesigned website launched in August this year, the newly created LXI Primer intended to help users quickly learn the ins and outs of LXI, the LXI Newsletter, and plans for an LXI China event in 2013.
Visit the LXI Consortium's YouTube channel to view a video from the previous Plugfest hosted by Rohde & Schwarz held earlier this year in Munich, Germany attended by equipment manufacturers, software vendors, systems integrators and members of the press.
For more information regarding LXI certification visit the LXI website: http://www.lxistandard.org
About LXI Consortium
The LXI Consortium, www.lxistandard.org, is an industry consortium that maintains the LXI specification, promotes the LXI Standard, and ensures interoperability.
With more than 55 of the top T&M companies sponsoring and developing this technology, and more than 1740 products in over 220 different product families, LXI (LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation) is the current and future standard for test & measurement (T&M).
LXI is the fastest ramp-up of any communications standard in the history of the test industry and products from leading test and measurement companies.


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UK-based fashion brand, ME+EM, is set to close its equity crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube this evening. The company launched the initiative last month, seeking £700,000. It will be finishing the round with nearly £1.4 million.
ME+EM was founded by Clare Hornby in 2009, and its clients include Duchess of Cambridge, Claudia Winkelman, Cara Delevigne, and Emma Watson. The company currently has two stores that are located in the prime central London and receives more than 125,000 monthly hits on its website. ME+EM reported that its website visits were up by 50% to +1.5million, as the brand grows stronger this grew +70% in the last quarter of 2016. The company also noted that in January 2017 alone it experienced +110% year on year increase in net revenue as its growth accelerates. While sharing details about its success over the past couple of years, ME+EM revealed:
“Over the last two years our customer base has grown significantly and we are performing well with January YoY sales up 102%. The total UK clothing and footwear market is currently worth £50bn and expected to grow to +£60bn by 2020.”
It was also noted:
“In 2016, website visits were up by 50% to +1.5million, as the brand grows stronger this grew +70% in the last quarter of 2016, showing there is more potential in this business. With the next round of fund raising we will focus on building our digital growth faster and enhancing our online and mobile marketing to boost our customer conversion online.”
During the final hours of its campaign, the team shared:
“A big thank you to all those who have invested so far. Our raise has been hugely successful and we are excited to have hundreds of you as part of our business.”
Funds from the Crowdcube campaign will be used to help ME+EM expand digitally.
Have a crowdfunding offering you'd like to share? Submit an offering for consideration using our Submit a Tip form and we may share it on our site!


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Apple sapphire supplier GT Advanced Tech has today released a statement announcing that it is filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. Filing for Chapter 11 means the company will be able to continue normal operations until it can resolve issues with creditors. As of September 28th, GTAT had $85 million in cash.
What implications this has on Apple’s upcoming Watch wearable, which uses a sapphire screen cover for both Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition models, is currently unclear. Apple also uses sapphire from GTAT in its iPhone lineup, for the camera cover and the Touch ID sensor.
expand full story


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Tune in as Grant Arnott from Power Retail discusses with Kalman Polak how Catch became a household name, competing against the biggest marketplaces in Australia, and the average day for someone at Catch Group.
In the wake of Wesfarmers’ acquisition of Catch Group, let’s dive into the typical day of someone at the company. Founded in 2007 by Gabby and Hezi Leibovich, Catch Group has evolved into one of Australia’s most popular online marketplaces.
Wesfarmers bought Catch Group Limited for $230 million, but the marketplace is said to continue to work as a single unit, with oversight of Kmart Group Managing Director, Ian Bailey.
With more than one million products both directly and through the Catch Marketplace, Catch Group have made a name for itself as an e-commerce platform, receiving more than 450,000 visits and 8,000 orders on a daily basis.
“We’re constantly evolving … aside from the side projects we’ve had in Scoopon, Grocery Run and Mumgo, but Catch continues to be the big, massive juggernaut. I believe it’s going to continue to grow from strength to strength,” explained Kalman Polak, the Director if GroceryRun and Catch veteran. “I think we’re going to be on the heels of Amazon and eBay because we’ve got the audience and they trust us, and they trust our brand. So it’s certainly to grow and go places.”
With such innovative ideas and projects coming through the pipeline at Catch, there is almost no such thing as a ‘typical day’. “A lot of the [innovative ideas] come from Gabby and Hezi, the founders; Nat is constantly coming up with ideas. A lot of the time we’re knocking them back because we don’t know how the hell we’re gonna get them all done,” Polak said.
“We are a team of thinkers, and we’re constantly thinking outside of the box. You have to, otherwise, you’re just going to be like the rest of them and you’re not going to move forward,” he continued.
To listen to the full podcast, tune in to the Power Retail Podcast at the Retail Global Gold Coast 2019 Conference below.


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Commercial real estate
*Liberty Property Trustsigned a deal for theconstruction of American Water's new headquarters building at One Water Streetin Camden, N.J. The project marks the first commercial development in Liberty's$1 billion mixed-use projectknown as The Camden Waterfront, which will include a 1.5 million-square-footoffice development with retail, hotel and residential components.
*Online gaming developer Zynga is reportedly scrapping plans to sell and leaseback its 670,000-square-foot headquarters in San Francisco, accordingto the New York Post. Located in theDesign District, the seven-story building was purchased for $228 million in2012, and was expected to go for more than $500 million, the paper said, citingunnamed sources.
*Olympia Heights Management unveiled plans for an approximately 382-unitresidential skyscraper of up to 74 stories in Atlanta's midtown district, Midtown Patch reported.The project, called 98 Fourteenth Street, is slated to be the city's secondtallest skyscraper, and is the first phase of a master planned development, thereport said.
*Total multifamily investment sales in New York City jumped 24% year over yearin May, with the dollar volume totaling nearly $1.2 billion, The Real Deal reported,citing Ariel Property Advisors.
*Crescent Communities' plans for the next phase of its 37-acre development sitecalled The Village at Research Park, in Charlotte, N.C., includes 300apartments, 75,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and a 200-room hotel, The Charlotte Observer reported,citing a rezoning request.
Thecompany previously sold a 312-unit apartment community in the first phase ofthe development, formerly known as Alexander Park, for $52.3 million, thereport noted.
* The Charlotte Observer also reported,citing a rezoning request made public, that Pulte Home Corp. plans to build amixed-use project in the Steele Creek neighborhood of Charlotte. The plansinclude up to 292 multifamily residences, 550 single-family homes and 80,000square feet of non-residential space including shops, the report said.
*Mason Dixon Properties LLC filed plans for a roughly 520,000-square-footwarehouse and distribution development in Louisville, Ky., that will alsoinclude office space, while another group submitted a proposal to build twowarehouses totaling 325,000 square feet, LouisvilleBusiness First reported,citing documents filed with the city.
*Canada's Financial Post featured a reporton soaring office vacancies in downtown Calgary, Alberta, where commercialreal-estate firms estimate the vacancy rate to be around 22%. The report saidthe area's "near-empty skyscrapers" and more than 2 million squarefeet of anticipated new delivery means the soft market conditions could lastfor up to a decade.
After the bell
*Funds affiliated with ApolloGlobal Management LLC launcheda cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of aspart of a planned buyoutof the timeshare operator.
*Second-quarter home sales in MiamiBeach and the barrier islands fell 24.7% year over year, and were down12.5% in Miami's coastalmainland, according to quarterly reports from Douglas Elliman Real Estateand Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants. The figures accountfor both condo and single-family home sales.
Theaverage sales price in Miami Beach jumped 12.1% year over year, surpassing the$1 million mark.
*Boulder, Colo., saw the average sale prices of single-family homes cross the $1million mark in the first half, after jumping 9% year over year, Boulder Daily Camera reported,citing D. B. Wilson at Re/Max of Boulder.
*Red Rock Resorts Inc.,formerly known asStation Casinos, filed plans to develop a casino in Reno, Nev., that could costup to $70 million, VegasInc. reported.
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a lower openingfor the U.S. market.
In Asia, the Hang Seng increased 0.46% to 21,659.25, and theNikkei 225 was up 0.68% to 16,497.85.
In Europe, around midday, the FTSE 100 was down 0.37% to6,629.85, and the Euronext 100 was down 0.74% to 861.29.
On the macro front
The consumer price index, the retail sales report, theEmpire State manufacturing survey, the industrial production report, thebusiness inventories report and the consumer sentiment report are due out today.
: Cloud-based software solutions aredisrupting traditional data center leasing dynamics and pose a potential threatto the business, an industry observer said.
: The July 14 edition of North American property newsroundup also features development projects by DCT Industrial and CyrusOne.
: Aggregate deal value for the five announced deals totaled$25.61 billion, the largest amount seen in a first half since 2007.
: This feature presents a weeklyrundown of recent significant management and board changes and personnel movesin the North American real estate industry, including U.S. REITs and REOCs,homebuilders, and gaming operators.
The Daily Dose is updated asof 7:30 a.m. ET. Some external links may require a subscription. Articles andlinks are correct as of publication time.


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Woman Charged with Felony After 20 Years, This Will Blow Your Mind!
Remember the good old days of going to the video store and renting a movie?
I can remember when I was a kid before Blockbuster or Movie Galley were around going to a store called Brookside Video where I could go and browse the movies that they had to rent. They had video games as well where I could rent Nintendo games. That’s right, not Sega, not Super NES, but regular Nintendo NES games.
Then Blockbuster came to town and they ended up going out of business because as a small mom and pop spot, they had no way of competing against the big box brand.
Today, there are still places like Redbox where you can rent DVDs, but for the most part, people just rent through an online streaming service or don’t even have to rent anything since there are plenty of movies included in their current services like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, or many others.
So we really don’t have to worry about late fees like we once did, but imagine having rented a VHS movie 20 years ago and never returning it. Well, that’s apparently what happeend to a Texas woman and ended up finding out that there was a warrant out for her arrest for, get this…felony embezzlement.
“I went to change my driver’s license, during this (forbidden illness) thing you had to make an appointment, and so, I sent them an email (and) they sent me an email and they told me … that I had an issue in Oklahoma and this was the reference number for me to call this number and I did,” McBride said.
The number connected her to the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office.
That was when she learned that all these years she had been wanted by the law.
“The first thing she told me was felony embezzlement, so, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack,” McBride said.
“She told me it was over the VHS tape and I had to make her repeat it because I thought, this is insane. This girl is kidding me, right? She wasn’t kidding,” McBride said.
The charge of felony embezzlement of the rented property was filed against her in March 2000.
Thankfully, prosecutors dismissed the charges on this ridiculous charge, especially since the video store company isn’t even in business anymore.
I can’t even imagine how this got to the point that it was deemed a felony embezzlement charge.


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A look at new and upcoming animation series for tv and streaming.
Australia’s vfx industry just got a lot bigger.
It will be the first animated feature produced by Georgia’s Fun Academy Motion Pictures.
In “Atomic Puppet,” a superhero is transformed into a powerless puppet who is only effective when placed on the hands of his biggest fan.
Technicolor has acquired The Milll, the world’s largest advertising vfx studio, in a deal valued at nearly $300 million.
“Inside Out” production designer Ralph Eggleston and historian John Canemaker will introduce some of the screenings.
The makers of last year’s CG Astérix and the upcoming “Little Prince” has been snapped up.
Technicolor announced last week that they have appointed Owen Hurley to be the Creative Director of its Animation and Games group. Hurley …
This press release was interesting to me because I wasn’t aware that Technicolor is making a push into original content development.
Paris, France –Technicolor announced that it has established a new high-end game art and animation team dedicated to working with …
Paris, France — Technicolor announced it has entered into an agreement with Canada’s Mercury Filmworks to co-develop and co-produce …


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BERLIN (Reuters) - The head of Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) works council wants a pared-down management structure at the carmaker, he told a German magazine, as the company takes stock after the ouster of Chairman Ferdinand Piech.
Volkswagen's management board is currently made up of nine members and includes positions responsible for procurement, China, commercial vehicles, sales and Audi.
"Do we really need a management board member for group production, one for group sales?" Bernd Osterloh was quoted as saying in an interview with weekly manager magazine.
Piech, at the helm of Europe's biggest carmaker for more than two decades, was forced out as VW chairman last month over his criticism of Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, who was backed by other stakeholders, labor representatives and family members.
VW is now in transition, looking for a new chairman to replace interim incumbent Berthold Huber, a former IG Metall union boss, while targeting a new structure for the 12-brand group.
Osterloh said labor representatives had been discussing a better group structure with the board for six months.
Labor's view is that alongside key board roles such as finance and personnel, the board should include the heads of the group's most important brands and its truck holding, he told the magazine.
Osterloh also had some words of criticism for the company's top management, based in the German town of Wolfsburg, saying more responsibility should be given to local managers.
"Here in Wolfsburg, some people purport to know what kind of cars Brazilians, Americans or people in India like to drive," he told the magazine. "Strange then, how some of these cars don't then seem to meet customers' taste."
He said that if regional managers did have more responsibility, then maybe VW would have managed to bring out a budget car for markets such as China and Brazil already.
VW has for many years been considering a low-cost vehicle for China but has not yet taken a decision on the project.
(Reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)


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Chrysler’s new corporate V-6 engine is being shown to the world at the 2009 New York auto show wrapped in an all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The company has supplied us with a few more specifics on the new engine family, called Pentastar, which will eventually replace seven V-6 mills in the current lineup and bring an average eight-percent fuel efficiency improvement compared to those powerplants.
The 24-valve, 3.6-liter V-6 features dual overhead cams and an aluminum block and heads. Both the intake and exhaust timing are variable, yet the engine employs traditional port fuel injection. When it debuts in the Grand Cherokee, the engine will be tuned to produce 280 hp at 6400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4800 rpm on regular gasoline (it is also E85-capable). The torque curve is broad, with 90 percent of max twist available from 1600 to 6400 rpm. Maximum engine speed is 7200 rpm.
“This new family of engines uses an architecture conceived with future technology growth and integration in mind,” according to Bob Lee, Chrysler powertrain product team vice president. We suspect this refers to the addition of things like direct fuel injection and turbochargers down the road, and a smaller-displacement version would also not surprise us.
Chrysler says the new engine will add two mpg to the company’s corporate average fuel economy by 2015. By that time, it should have found its way into most Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler vehicles, including the next Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300C.


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Microsoft made a move with Windows 8 that users either hated or loved. Microsoft saw a future that laptops would all have touch screens, users would want their desktops and laptops more like their phones. Now businesses may have seen this and thought that it wasn’t the future, and in fact it either scared businesses to upgrade to Windows 7 or keep their outdated system. Consumers hated the change, while some welcomed the new layout, features, and touch screen capabilities. Now most laptops being sold have touch screens and take full advantage of Windows 8.
Now Microsoft is taking a set back and making Windows 10 more like Windows 7. There will still be the welcome screen with apps, but the desktop will be the main screen the computer boots to. Windows 10 will still be optimized for touch screens, but it won’t be more like our tablets or phones. This move from Microsoft is a bad reversal from the company that has managed to become cool again and embraced mobile recently.
The Windows apps and the marketplace made it easier for users to find and use apps. I’ve become an avid user of the Twitter and Facebook app because they are better than the web version and I am able to snap the Twitter or Facebook app next to a game or a different app. The marketplace won’t go anywhere, but with the desktop more developers will not take their time to develop apps just for the marketplace or the Windows 8 style apps.
Other than the ranting of my somewhat crazy love for Windows 8, I think Windows 8 grows on you. User hate change and the huge change from Windows 7 to 8 scared users, but more people are becoming accustomed to the touch screen that people almost always have on their phone. Users are starting to think of their laptop or desktop of less than just a desktop and more of a smartphone that’s more powerful, but sometimes that isn’t always the case. The normal consumer uses apps like Facebook, Twitter, and their internet browser to check email.
Professionals and businesses may embrace Windows 10, Adobe understands that some will love to use touch screens and the mouse from time to time. Microsoft change to make our desktops and laptops more like our phones is a smart move, but they are backtracking in Windows 10. Windows 10 may integrate Cortana which is Google Now’s and Siris rival. Windows 10 will make desktops and laptops feel less like tablets and phones that users will once again distinguish them as two different use cases.
Overall Microsoft saw the future but didn’t want to stick it out because too many people are hating on Windows 8. Tell us in the comments below what you think about the leaks and information Microsoft has given us on Windows 10 which will come out late 2015.


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Hundreds of Dogs Hit in Pet Food Poison Scare
This just in from Australia!
The Australian Veterinary Association is warning Australians that the source of a recent upsurge in kidney damage in small dogs is tied to contaminated pet food meat. Furthermore the meat’s origin source is suspected as China.
The AVA is encouraging all veterinarians to report cases of serious kidney damage to them immediately. Mark Lawrie the AVA national president stated yesterday that, “We have only become aware of this in the last three or four weeks, and we need to make people aware there are some clear indications there is a problem out there.”
According to Lawrie the kidney failure cases have been traced to a well-known Australian pet-food supplier. This manufacturer is using tainted meat that is imported from China. Lawrie is withholding the name of the company, citing legal reasons. Earlier this month the University of Sydney issued a national alert about this kidney-destroying pet food. But the university was ordered under legal threat, from the pet food manufacturer, to desist from any further comments. One university researcher (who refused to be named) stated that there is enough evidence against this company to recall the entire product line.
It appears that Australia’s legal system provides corporations a strangle-hold power, prohibiting the mention of a specific product in connection with anything scandalous — even if this means perpetrating the death of innocent pets. This leaves the Australian pet owner stabbing in the dark when it comes to selecting a safe pet food for their dog.
Despite being hampered by threats from the company the AVA has done its best to alert veterinarians about the problem. While at the same time, the AVA admonishes the vets to not make any comments to the media about the case. Due to all the legal haranguing the AVA has only been made aware of a few dozen cases. Yet, they suspect that the true numbers are more likely into the hundreds.
The AVA holds to the position that all pet owners need to be concerned, particularly if they have a small breed dog. Both vets and dog owners alike are advised of these warning signs:
- INCREASED thirst and urination.
- REDUCED appetite and lethargy.
- VOMITING and weakness.
Please be aware that American pet food companies also use Chinese imports to manufacture pet food. Despite China’s poor track record this practice persists, particularly when it comes to gluten and grain products (this includes rice). In 2007 contaminated ingredients from China resulted in the deaths of hundreds of pets due to kidney failure. Although imported ingredients are still used to manufacture dog and cat food consumers can not determine from the label the ingredient’s country of origin. And there is no method of knowing if imported ingredients include meat. This is a huge concern to the pet owner because pet food labels are not required to list the ingredient’s country of origin. Therefore ANY ingredient on the label can come from foreign sources, including China. After all, it is not illegal to import products from oversees sources.
So what is a pet parent to do? For one thing, avoid pet food that lists gluten as an ingredient. Gluten, besides being bad for your pet’s health, can ultimately be a source of contamination. Avoid feeding your pet manufactured food loaded with grains, since grain can also be source of contamination. Next, find manufacturers that assure the consumer that their products are not only manufactured in the U.S.A. but are produced with American ingredients.
Whatever Happened to the Food and Drug Administration’s Animal Feed Safety System?
On the heels of the 2007 pet food scandal the shamed-faced FDA scrabbled to regain its composure by attempting to develop animal feed safeguards. As a result, in November of 2007 the FDA released its Food Protection Plan, aptly named the Animal Feed Safety System, or AFFSS. Unfortunately, rather than take responsibility the FDA offers us a spoonful of pabulum by referring to America’s previous safety record for animal feed. Conversely the FDA’s only mention of what really prompted their action is, “the public became alarmed last year when imported feed ingredients, contaminated with melamine and related compounds, were used in pet food, which resulted in sick dogs and cats.”
That is of course an understatement. Dogs and cats did not just become ill, they died! And America’s track record for animal feed safety may be “good” compared to third-world countries but this is America and Americans expect and demand higher safety standards. It could be said that it took the death of thousands of innocent American pets to get the FDA to take action on imported and domestic pet food products.
Supposedly the FDA Food Protection Plan’s intent is to identify potential food hazards before damage occurs. Here is the FDA’s own definition of the Animal Feed Safety System’s directive:
A risk-based, preventive animal feed safety program [that] will require producers and distributors of animal feeds to take into consideration hazards, whose presence in or introduction into their feeds pose an unacceptable risk to animal or human health and to develop a plan to prevent or eliminate, or reduce to an acceptable level, those hazards.
However, FDA bureaucracy enjoys adding more acts, programs, and titles, just to keep things complicated. So, not only is there an AFSS but the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 was passed to put the pressure on the FDA itself to “improve the safety of pet food and ingredients¹.” Title 10 of this act requires the FDA to establish, “by regulation, ingredient standards and definitions, processing standards, and labeling standards—including nutritional and ingredient information—for pet food. It also requires the FDA to establish an Early Warning Surveillance and Notification System to identify adulteration of the pet food supply and illness outbreaks and to notify veterinarians and other stakeholders of pet food recalls.²”
Confused by all the abbreviations, programs, titles, and acts? You are not alone! It’s no wonder that it takes a whole team of people to keep up with it all. This team is the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), also part of the FDA. In April 2008 the CVM filed its 3rd version of the AFSS Framework Document. The idea was to identify and plug in any gaps found in the original framework document. The bottom line is, what have Americans received thus far? Revisions and more revisions — all with the idea of improving the initial AFSS food protection plan.
Currently, there are still no enforceable regulations to protect pets from food contamination. Yet, it is well over a year since the deaths of thousands of America’s pets that spurred the FDA to set up the AFSS in the first place. Never mind that the tainted pet food in early 2007 resulted in a 24 million dollar lawsuit. Or that there is still no early warning notification system in place. So when will regulations for ingredients, processing, and standardization of feed labels be introduced? And, when will an early warning notification system be in place? Your guess is as good as the FDA’s!
¹2008 - Volume XXIII, No. III, FDA Newsletter
²2008 - Volume XXIII, No. III, FDA Newsletter
What’s a Pet Parent to Do?
Salmonella has reared its ugly head again, this time in the Hartz Mountain Rawhide Chips. I am not a big advocate of feeding dogs rawhide or pig ears: They are indigestible, some occurrences of intestinal blockage have been reported, and some dogs (when left unsupervised) have choked on them. In addition, some of these products use animal parts from Asia or other third-world countries. These countries do not regulate pesticides, chemicals, or sanitation. Even if the hides are from the United States the chews could be processed in a foreign country. Arsenic is just one of the harmful substances used in rawhide processing, another is bleaching solutions (to make the hide white). Unfortunately, dog owners are blissfully unaware of this and they continue to give Fido these treats. It’s not that dog parents want to give their four-pawed pals something harmful, it’s just that most people believe these products wouldn’t be on the market if they were dangerous. And yet, time and time again the pet product industry breaks this trust.
You might recall that back in August another outbreak of Salmonella turned up in pet food. This time it was the Mars Petcare US company. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered a link between Salmonella Schwarzengrund, pet food, and an outbreak of Salmonella that affected sixty-six people and spanned 18 states. As it turns out, these people were affected by the exact same strain of Salmonella discovered in the Mars Petcare brand of Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula and the Krasdale Gravy kibble. The Pennsylvania Health Department also discovered traces of the strain at the Pennsylvania factory where the food was produced.
Mars was quick to act, recalling the food within a week of this discovery. Then once again in September another Mars Petcare US pet food recall was made. Again it was over “potential” salmonella contamination. This time a variety of their brands were affected and products in 31 states were pulled from the shelves.
No doubt about it, Salmonella is on the rise. In fact, the CDC reports that there are about 40,000 cases of Salmonella poisoning in the United States each year. That’s just the ones that are reported — milder cases are rarely reported — so it is difficult to state with certainty exactly how many cases actually occur each year. The problem is that Salmonella is highly transferable. That is, a person handling contaminated dog food can get it on their hands and accidentally ingest it. Another problem is that drug-resistant strains of Schwarzengrund Salmonella are increasing. And if a person contracts a drug-resistant variety they will require prolonged hospitalization. In some cases it results in death. As is usually the case with disease, the elderly and young are more likely to become victims. Furthermore, Schwarzengrund Salmonella can create multiple problems, even after a person recovers. One is Rieter’s Syndrome, an arthritis-like disease that causes painful joints, eye irritation, and painful urination.
On the whole, the frequency of Schwarzengrund Salmonella outbreaks is alarming. It reminds us to be cautious when handling all food products, including pet food. Certainly we need to take care in washing feeding bowls, utensils, and measuring cups. In addition, we want to caution small children about playing with pet food. Finally, as pet parents and consumers we want to educate ourselves about the food we are feeding our dogs and cats. Being enlightened will help us select the best quality of dog food or cat food for the four-pawed members of our family. It’s not just about our pets, Salmonella involves the human members of our family too. Let’s all wise up about pet food, take the time to investigate and research — after all, you wouldn’t put anything harmful into your baby’s mouth would you? By the same token, no loving pet parent would want to place harmful food into their furry baby’s bowl.


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Microsoft: "We are not discontinuing Kinect"
Major Nelson says the decision to unbundle Kinect from the Xbox One was all about consumer choice.
Microsoft's decision to unbundle Kinect from the Xbox One does not mean the company is going to end support for the camera technology anytime soon. During his latest podcast, Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb explained that offering a $399 Kinect-free Xbox One was really all about giving consumers a choice.
"We are not discontinuing Kinect or support for it. We still have a whole team of folks working on that. But we want to give everybody who would like to get in on the Xbox One action an opportunity," Hryb said.
This isn't much of a surprise, as Microsoft said when it announced the new Kinect-free Xbox One bundle last Tuesday that Kinect remains an important component of the platform's long-term vision. Microsoft has high hopes for voice- and gesture-based controls overall, as Xbox executive Yusuf Mehdi said last week that in five years, we'll laugh at any computing device that doesn't offer voice control.
The new $399 Xbox One goes on sale June 9. People who buy the new Xbox One SKU will be able to later purchase a Kinect if they want when the standalone camera goes on sale this fall. Pricing has not been announced, but we can't imagine it would be more than $100.
It might sound backwards, but Microsoft's Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, contends that unbundling Kinect will actually lead to more Kinect sales overall. He argues that the $399 price point will attract a broader audience, who may in turn later realize they want a Kinect.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.